Supporting detachable leg



p 1949- T. K. MARKS 2,482,012

SUPPORT ING DETACHABLE LEGS Filed Nov. '7, 1945 M ii 32 m ,3 13 241 Fly 2 INVENTOR.

T/zeo dare K. Marks A Home ys Patented Sept. 13 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING DETACHABLE LEG Theodore K. Marks, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November '7, 1945, Serial No. 627,147

I 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to detachable legs for supporting articles and devices of various types, such as for instance, furniture, stoves, washing machines, tanks, boilers, pieces of machinery, game apparatus, etc.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a supporting leg, which may be attached to the article or device to be supported without the use of any tools whatsoever, and which may be detached in like manner.

Another important object is to provide a supporting leg, which can be readily and securely attached to the device to be supported by slidably moving the leg toward the device, and which can be just as readily detached by slidable movement in the opposite direction.

Another object of particular importance is to provide a detachable leg construction of relatively simple, sturdy and inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide a leg construction, which is particularly well adapted to furnish firm, secure and stable support for a device or article such as furniture, stoves, washing machines, tanks, boilers, pieces of machinery, ame devices, etc.

In its broadest aspect, the invention consists essentially in providing each of the supporting legs and each of the corners of the device where the legs are to be secured with cooperating elements, the elements on the device being formed with channels on each side of each of the corners, and the elements on the legs bein provided with portions adapted to be slidably received within said channels, and secured thereby against unintentional displacement.

The term corners is used broadly to designate the places or regions on the supported device where the legs are attached.

The concept underlying the invention is susceptible of being embodied in a variety of physical forms. The presently preferred embodiment is a supporting leg for a game device having a substantially rectangular base, such as for instance, a so-called pin-ball machine. The invention will be described with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, and the disclosure will be specific and detailed for clearness of understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood from said disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of the presently preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Figure -1, part being in plan and part in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view looking down on the top of the detached leg.

Referring specifically to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the base of the article or device to be supported is illustrated as being of substantially rectangular horizontal cross-section, only corner it being shown. The two adjoining sides forming the corner are indicated as H and I2. The base may be that of a game device such as a so-called pin-ball machine. The base is shown as being supported at the illustrated corner by means of the detachable leg l3. It will be understood that each of the other three corners is supported by a similar leg.

The leg is is preferably substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section. For purpose of ready reference, the portions of the leg may be designated as follows: top, I4; bottom, l5; outer side, it; inner side, I1, and the two lateral sides, !8, IS. The top is shown as being curved outwardly, and the front corners 29, 2| are bevelled. These details are not essential parts of the inventlon, being primarily for the purpose of providing attractive appearance.

On the inner side i I, there is provided a groove 22, which extends from the top for a portion of the length of the leg. The shape of the groove is such as to enable the leg to conform closely to the region of the base of the device to which it is to be attached. In the case of illustrative embodiment, the groove is V-shaped in horizontal crosssection so as to fit the rectangular corner H]. In the case of a rounded base, as for instance that of a washing machine, the groove would be semicircular in cross-section.

As has been stated, both the supporting leg and the corner of the base of the supported device are provided with cooperating elements. The elements on the base are denoted by 23, 23, and the elements on the leg are denoted by 24, 24. The two elements 23, 23 are exactly similar in construction being mirror images of each other, the same being true of 24, 24'. Hence, it is only necessary to describe the construction of elements 23 and 24, it being understood that an element designated by a primed number is of the same construction as that denoted by an unprimed numeral.

Element 23 is formed of substantially resilient sheet metal such as steel having a thickness of about 1' 5". It has a flat portion 25 and an angular portion 26, which is preferably U-shaped. Element 23 is secured, as by means of screws 21, to

the side iii of the base in parallel spaced relationship to the corner ID with the opening in the U facing the base. The free leg 28 of the U terminates just short (about 1 6) of the base so that there is provided a vertical slot 29. An inwardly extending tongue 33 may be provided at the upper end of the U for a purpose which will be pointed out.

Element 24 is formed of substantially the same material as element 23, and has a fiat portion 30a, and a bent portion 3 I. It is secured in any suitable manner, as by means of bolts and nuts 32, to the lateral side E9 of the leg a short distance from the top thereof. The width of the flat portion 30a is such that it extends beyond the inner side I! of the leg. The bent portion 3| consists of two parts, a relatively narrow fiat portion 32a, which may deviate slightly from the plane of the adjacent side of the groove 22 in the leg, and an angular portion 33, which is preferably U-shaped. The width of the U is such that it can readily be forced to slide into the U-shaped channel in the U-shaped portion 26 of the element 23. The U may increase gradually in width from the upper to lower end. A notch 34 may be provided at the upper end of the base of the U 33 for a purpose to be pointed out.

As has been stated, element 23 is the mirror image of 23, and element 24' is the mirror image of 24. the base in substantially the same manner as element 23 is secured to the side i2. Element 24' is secured to the lateral side [8 of the leg l3 in exactly the same manner as element 24 is secured to the lateral side Hi.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the U-shaped portions 26, 26' of the elements 23, 23' provide spaced guideways for receiving the U-shaped portions 33, 33 of the elements 24, 26'. To secure the leg it to the corner IS. the leg is placed against the corner with the upper portion of the groove 22 in contact with the corner, the U-shaped portions 33, 33 of the leg construction are caused to enter the U-shaped portions 26, 26 of the corner construction, and pressure is applied against the leg to push the portions 33, 33' into the portions 26, 26' until the tongues 30, 30 enter the notches 35, 3 By reason of the disclosed structure, the U-shaped elements 26, 26' of the corner construction tightly clamp the U-shaped elements 33, 33 of the leg construction, thereb firmly securing the leg against unintential displacement. To detach the leg, all that is necessary is to pull the leg away from the base to which it is attached.

The invention has been described with particular reference to the attachment of legs to game apparatus such as the so-called pin ball matightening of the bolts often cause the legs to split, thereby adding considerably to the cost of maintenance. This drawback is entirely eliminated by means of this invention.

As has been stated, the foregoing disclosure has been given for illustrative purposes only, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood Element 23' is secured to the side H of 4 because of the specific and detailed nature of the disclosure.

I claim:

1. A detachable leg for a device to be supported above the floor, said leg having its inner surface grooved to conform to the outer surface of the region of the device where said leg is to be attached, two elements formed of resilient sheet metal, each secured to the leg to one side of the grooved surface and extending beyond the grooved surface, each of said elements having a U-shaped vertical portion at its free end.

2. A corner construction for a device to be supported by detachable legs, two elements formed of resilient sheet metal, each secured to the outer surface of one of the adjoining sides formed by the corner, each of said elements having a U-shaped vertical portion in parallel spaced relation to the corner.

3, The combination of two adjoining sides forming the corner of a device to be supported, two elements formed of resilient material each secured to one of the adjoining sides, each of said elements having an angular vertical portion in spaced relation to the corner, a le member having one of its surfaces grooved to conform to the corner, two elements formed of resilient sheet metal, each secured to the leg member to one side of the grooved surface and extending along the adjoining sides, each of said elements having an angular vertical portion at its free end, the angular portions of said last mentioned elements being received for slidable movement within the angular portions of the first mentioned elements.

4. The combination of two adjoining sides forming the corner of a device to be supported, two elements formed of resilient material each secured to one of the adjoining sides, each of said elements having a U-shaped vertical portion in spaced relation to the corner, a leg member having one of its surfaces grooved to conform to the corner, two elements formed of resilient sheet metal, each secured to the le meniber to one side of the grooved surface and extendin along the adjoining sides, each of said elements having a U-shaped vertical portion at its free end, the U-shaped portions of said last mentioned elements being received for slidable movement within the U-shaped portions of the first mentioned elements.

-5. The combination of a corner construction and a supporting leg, the corner construction comprising two adjoining sides, each of the adjoining sides of the corner construction being provided with a vertical channel member, and the leg being provided with an extension at each of its vertical sides, said extensions being adapted to be slidably received with said channel members, both said channel members and said extensions being U-shaped in cross-section.

6. The combination of a corner construction and a supporting leg, the corner construction comprising two adjoinin vertical sides, an angular channel member of resilient material provided on each of the adjoining sides in parallel spaced relation to the boundary between said sides, the leg being provided with two lateral extensions each terminating in an angular element, said last mentioned elements being adapted to be slidably received within said channel members.

7. The combination of a corner construction and a supporting leg, the corner construction comprising two adjoining vertical sides, a U- shaped channel member of resilient material REFERENCES CITED provided on the outer surface of each of the adjoining sides in parallel spaced relation to g 123 3235 g i are of record in the the boundary between said sides, the leg being provided with two lateral extensions each termi- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS nating in a U-shaped element, said last men- Number Name Date tioned elements being adapted to be slidably 258 351 Bascom May 23 1882 received within said channel members. 1388:2053 Ferguson 1932 1,903,908 Arlt Apr. 18, 1933 THEODORE MARKS 2,436,056 Prothro Feb, 17, 1943 

